Construction of large solar parks and wind farms in Czechia will speed up, draft law promises

Permitting construction of large solar parks or wind farms in Czechia should speed up. This is provided for in a draft law on accelerating the use of renewable energy sources, which is now entering the interministerial review process. Its aim is to enable the creation of so-called acceleration zones. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) announced this today.

The draft law was prepared by the MIT in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry for Regional Development. It builds on a government resolution from April this year, in which the cabinet approved a process for designating so-called acceleration zones for the construction of renewable energy sources. These will be areas where permits for solar and wind power plants can be issued more quickly. Preparation and permitting of construction in these zones is expected to take up to 12 months.

According to Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela (STAN), renewable energy sources, together with nuclear power, will be the main sources of Czech energy. „Acceleration zones are another step towards simplifying and significantly speeding up permits for the construction of solar and wind power plants. They will primarily be areas with high potential for generating electricity and minimal negative impact on the environment, such as former industrial zones, brownfields or mines,” he said.

Under the MIT’s proposal, projects using renewable energy will be permitted under a special simplified process in so-called acceleration zones. The zones will initially be designated for power plants using solar and wind energy, as these technologies are expected to see the largest increase in installed capacity by 2030.

„Thanks to acceleration zones, the main permitting issues will be resolved before companies and municipalities agree on where to locate wind or photovoltaic power plants. Project approval times should therefore not exceed one year,“ said Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL).

„Designating acceleration zones, together with the entry into force of the new Building Act, will enable fast, transparent and convenient assessment of construction projects for both investors and the public,“ added Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates).

Suitable power plant locations will be designated with regard to spatial planning. Under the proposal, acceleration zones should be designated at all three levels, based on municipal land-use plans, regional spatial development policies and, where appropriate, national plans. According to the ministries, the selection of locations will also take into account criteria for protecting other public interests, particularly the protection of natural resources and the environment. Alongside the spatial planning documentation, a land-use measure will also be prepared for each acceleration zone, setting out detailed and specific conditions for the area.

Supporters of renewable energy have long called for the creation of so-called acceleration zones. They say Czechia has long lagged behind in building large solar parks, which are expected to become an important part of the energy sector in the future.